Possible heat problems and the Blitzz BWU713 USB Wireless-G adapter

[Dazed and Confused]

Okay, I have a Blitzz BWU713 Wireless-G USB 2.0 adapter that I'm using to connect to the internet and stuff. I'm noticing that it will drop the wireless connection in about 3 - 5 mins under normal use, being the obsessive fool I am, I had to get to the root of this problem so I started to dismantle the adapter and discovered that the radio chip under the metal shield was quite hot. Understanding that heat is the #1 enemy of computer components I let the innards of the USB adapter hang out and I hooked up an 80mm fan and now have it blowing directly on the adapter. Much to my suprise I can now stay connected to any wireless connection this way.

To rule out there being a fluke I simply turned the fan off and left the adapter as it was. Over the course of like a 10 minute period I monitored my wireless strength/speed and watched it go from a 4 out of 5 bar signal at 36/48mbps to a 2 bar signal and an 18/24 mbps connection speed then it finally dropped the signal. I turned the fan back on and gave the adapter like 2 mins then reconnected to my network and have been going for 13 hours now.

Has anyone else experienced problems like this ? Is this poor design or just poor quality components do you guys think or a combination ? Personally I think a larger sheild for the radio chipset would have gone a long ways for cooling/stability .

I'm thinking about removing the shield or cutting a hole in the shield and the plastic case and putting one of my spare Zalman ramsinks on the radio chipset directly and seeing if that helps any. It might even look cool I might even put a 15mm fan on it for extra cooling and I think the usb connection might provide enough power for the fan.

 

[JackMDS]

Many of the Thumbs size USB adaptor has Heat dispassion problem and should Not be used as the main Wireless that is On all the time.

Since you have nothing to lose try your cooling idea. Might work as long as they do not make the Antenna and do not introduce electrical noise.

Otherwise PCI adapters are better solution provided that they are fit with external Antenna that can be put above the system.

This one is a good inexpensive solution that come s with extended external Antenna.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833315041

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Ahh, good to know that I'm not alone in this. That wireless adapter does look like it's gets a high approval rating for the price They really should make the Radio chipset side of the USB adapters out of aluminum that directly contacts the radio chipset itself to keep it cool : /

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Okay, I put a large heatsink on the radio chipset shield and a Zalman Ramsink on the chip on the otherside of the card which also got warm. I no longer have a fan blowing on the thing but notice the heatsinks do get a bit warm so I'm guessing they're doing thier job. I've been connected without a fan for about 30 mins now which is about 25mins more than I would have been before doing anything to the adapter. The only wierd thing which Jack MDS probably knew would happen is my signal speed jumps arround a lot more with the heatsinks on due to increased interference I immagine. I still get 4 out of the 5 signal strenght bars but my speed jumps from 12mbps to 36mbps and all in between non stop. As long as it stays above the 1mbps that my internet can handle I'm not going to worry though

Long story short, a little heatsink goes a long way to make these little USB adapters a little more reliable when they're your only option.